Create 7 custom fingerprint reader Tasker actions

Previously I did a tutorial on how to assign custom fingerprint actions and make it context dependent. You can have a look at this tutorial here. This time I will show you few different profiles that utilize this action, and make the fingerprint sensor even more useful. If you don’t have a fingerprint scanner on your phone, don’t worry, this would as well work with an onscreen button. I will show you how to create an invisible one too!

Let’s have a look at custom fingerprint actions.

Chrome – send the web page to another device (upgraded)

This is an iteration, so it’s bound to be better. While the profile alone does exactly the same thing, it will cast the page to the selected PC based on a WIFI connected or a dialog. I also added a toggle for accessibility services for AutoInput, as these tend to slow down the Android. You can either use a WIFI connected context to pick a PC of your choice (home/work in the example) or display a dialog. In both examples, I have added Secure Settings accessibility toggle as A1 and last action. If you struggle to get the Secure Settings working look at this solution or check the run shell options from here.

WIFI connected

Unless you can get the location values from another profile, you will need to create two additional profiles. One will set the variable %Location to home, another to work. Create the profile, WIFI connected, fill in your home SSID, and link the task which will set the variable %Location to home. Do the same for the work WIFI.

Now that we have this ready we can simply add an IF condition to Join Push action. A push to the correct device will be issued depending on our %Location variable.

Dialog

If you have multiple PC in the single network, perhaps a dialog would be a better option for you. I’m going to use AutoTools to generate a dialog which will consist names of the PCs I can cast the web page to. Once clicked – the website will be sent. If you are going to use just the dialog, you don’t need to recreate the profiles from above. All you need to do is add the AutoTools Dialog action to your task. Populate the names with your options and assign commands to each option. These commands will be stored in a variable %atcommand. Once pressed, the variable will be set, and we can trigger the correct Join Push action. Each Join Push action will have a match IF condition (%atcommand ~ home or work etc).

WhatsApp – Continue on the PC

WhatsApp is great and everything, but you know that it is easier to have that heated discussion on the computer instead. Very simplistic, and yet very useful profile that will get the WhatsApp up and running on your PC so you could continue talking. If you have more than one PC, feel free to link this to a WIFI or create a dialog like we did above. If you not aware, WhatsApp has a web interface at: https://web.whatsapp.com/ use this in the URL field.

Facebook – Open Facebook on a PC

In a very similar fashion, we can continue our Facebook browsing. In the same way as before link a new URL: https://www.facebook.com/ and you ready to roll. Of course feel free to link this to a WIFI or add a dialog option.

Maps – Navigate home, or to your favorite location

One click ‘Take me home’ is a very practical thing to have. When maps are open we can pass an intent and ask Google to take us home (requires home location in Google Maps, or hardcoded address in the variable). If you wish to have few favorites to choose from like work or Las Vegas, we can also link a dialog.

Navigate Home

With a quick press of a button an Intent action is sent. This will open the Map and set home as your destination. Simple!

Favorite Locations

Create a dialog with AutoTools, and fill in a list of locations. You can use places like home or work, cities or specific addresses. List them separated with commas. The AutoTools dialog will populate the variable %attext when the option is pressed. This option will be passed over to the intent, in the data field: google.navigation:q=%attext . The intent: android.intent.action.VIEW will take you to your destination.

Hangouts – Quick reply templates

I know I seem to love the AutoTools Dialog action, but it is one of the most useful actions in my opinion. This time we will set the clipboard with a quick response template. Once the selection is made, you can paste your text message or reply in seconds. No need for typing.

To create an array, use Variable Set and list your options separated by the comma. Perform Variable split by the comma and you have a handsome looking array! We will use this array to store our templates in. Make sure it is a global array (contains upper case letter in the name) as local arrays will disappear. You can modify the array later as well. The AutoTools Dialog will take the %Templates() array in the text field and will populate your list with options. All you need to do now is use Set Clipboard action to store the value of %attext. I kept the array created actions for you in the description. Once you have an array you can delete A1 and A2 actions.

Camera – Delayed shutter

I always find uncomfortable to use the camera for selfies. Scanning your finger perhaps is not the greatest option, however, you can set the camera to a timer, and get your hand in position. This gives you the extra reach needed for that ultimate selfie.

To give ourselves a warning, the Android lady will count down for us with the action Say. After this – use action Button – Camera to take the picture with the main camera. No need to play with the timers or reaching out for a button.

YouTube – Cast to PC

I always found this annoying, if you have a smart TV – casting the YouTube video to PC is very difficult. Unless your PC has the YouTube page open in a TV mode, the cast option is not possible. We can enable the option using the scanner. This is yet another simple profile, but so useful. Open Join Push URL page: https://www.youtube.com/tv on your PC, and you can select the source of your cast by long pressing the cast option in the YouTube Video! So simple!

Conclusion – custom fingerprint actions alternatives

If you don’t have a sensor the same behavior can be reproduced with an overlay. I’m using an image added to the scene. Modifying the alpha value according to my needs. If you make an invisible scene that will act exactly the same way as scanning your finger. Place it in a fixed location, so you would know where to tap (or long tap) and execute the following:

You can make the button visible, but I found it little distracting especially when watching the videos etc. Select all applications that would support the use of the button by creating a profile which will show and destroy the scene.

Share this:

About the Author

I am passionate about technology, cycling, and art. This would explain why my bike has more computing power than your average office. I own notenoughtech.com and I write for xda-developers.com and pocketables.com
Feel free to follow me!